Edge-active belt



May 12, 1953 P. B. REEVES 2,633,007

EDGE-ACTIVE BELT Filed ma :5, 1951 n 7'VIII/11111111111011!!!wgfliwillIw' INVEN TOR. Ham: .5. FZ'ZE'VEE,

Patented May 12, 1953 EDGE-ACTIV E BELT Paul B. Reeves, Columbus, Ind., assignor to Reeves Pulley Company, Columbus, Ind., a corporation of Indiana.

- Application May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,305

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to power transmission belts and particularly to the type of belts intended to cooperate with coned sheaves. One type of such belt comprises a strand or web of material of high tensile strength, but being readily fiexible both longitudinally and transversely, carrying a longitudinally spaced. series of transversely extending blockunits. These units perform a dual purpose-they provide oppositelyfacing surfaces outboard from the lateral edges of the belt strand for active engagement with the coned sheaves and act, at the same time, as transverse stiffener members for the belt strand to absorb the compressive stress which would otherwise be placed directly on the strand by the c oned sheaves. Belt units of the character here under consideration are usually formed of a relatively flat strand or web, the block uni-ts being either frictionally clamped to such strand or rigidly held thereto by means of screws passed through the strand body and engagedin the block units. Such means of securing the blocks to the strand give rise to obvious difiiculties both in the manufacture and in the use of such belts. This invention is, therefore, directed primarily to an improved belt construction and particularly to an improved means for securing the block units to the belt strand.

Ancillary objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 7 To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only; and

that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a central transverse section through a belt block constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmental bottom perspective view of a section of belt strand used with this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have illustrated, in Fig. 3, a portion of a belt strand ll] of the type used in my present invention. Such strand comprises a number of runs 29 of cord, wire or similarly strong tensile material, which runs may be independent of each other, but will preferably be separate turns or vceiving one of the cleats H.

stretches of a continuous element. Such runs, lying in a common plane, are integrally encased in a molded body of rubber or rubberoid material, which body is formed, on its under or inner surface, with uniformly-longitudinally-spaced, transversely extending cleats l l of the body material. These cleats lend some transverse stifiness or rigidity to the belt strand; but more importantly, they will sustain substantial stresses, in the direction of strand length, without separation from the strand and Without substantial distortion.

According to my invention, I associate with each cleat H a block unit l2 comprising a beam l3 having formed integrally at its oppositeends a pair of wing members 14 and I5. Said wing members present oppositely-facing surfaces [6 and H, allochirally angularly related to a plane perpendicular to beam l3. Preferably, these members extend above and below the beam [3 and are wedge-shaped in side elevation as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Beam 13 presents an upwardly facing surface [8, preferably part-cylindrical in cross-section as shown in Fig. 2, and extending continuously between the wing members I4 and I5 in the direction of the axis of cylindrical surface l8. A

groove l 9 is formed in surface I8 along the median line thereof and extends from one to the other of members I4 and [5 opening upwardly from surface [8.

Each block [2 is placed on belt strand Ill with beam surface l3 juxtaposed to the cleat-bearing side of strand Hi and with groove l9 snugly re- To retain cleat H in groove is, I provide a clamp plate 20 adapted to register with beam [3 and engaging the outer surface of belt 50.

Plate 20 could be secured to beam 13 by means of screws passing therethrough and thence through holes formed in the belt strand l0 and engaged in threaded sockets in beam I3. This, however, would entail an added expense in manufacture in perforating the belt strand to accommodate passage of such screws, and would, at least to some extent, weaken the belt body. Therefore, I prefer to form plate 20 with a length substantially greater than the transverse dimension of strand I0, so that the ends 21 and 22 of said plate overhang the lateral edges of strand 10. A pair of screws 23 and 24 are passed through perforations in said ends and engage in threaded sockets 25 and 26 in beam I3, clearing the lateral edges of the belt strand, as shown. Thus, I eliminate the need for perforating the belt strand l0.

reducing the cost of manufacture, and maintain ing maximum belt strength and life.

As in conventional practice, I provide friction pads 21 and 28 on the surfaces [6 and l! for active engagement with the coned surfaces of the sheaves over which such a belt is intended to be run. I

I claim as my invention:

1. A belt comprising a body strand of material of high tensile strength, but readily flexible both longitudinally and transversely, having a series: of longitudinally-spaced, transversely-extending cleats on the inner surface thereof, and a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, transversely-rigid stiffener blocks each secured to said strand. in registry with one of said cleats and each comprising a transverse beam integrally carrying members at its opposite ends formed to present oppositely-facing surfaces allochirally angularly related to a plane perpendicular to said beam, said beam being formed with an upwardly presented surface extending continuously between said members engaging the cleat bearing surface of said strand and having a central groove therein extending from one to the other of said members receiving therein one of said cleats, and means cooperating with said strand to secure said strand to said beam.

2. The belt of claim 1 in which said means comprises a clamping plate engaging the outer surface of said strand, in registry with said beam, having a length substantially greater than the transverse dimension of said strand, the ends thereof overhanging the lateral edges of said strand, and a pair of screws each penetrating 1' one of said plate ends and engaging in a threaded socket formed in said beam for clamping said strand between said. plate and said beam.

3. A belt comprising a body strand of material of high tensile strength, but readily flexible both L longitudinally and transversely, having a series of longitudinally-spaced, transverse cleats extending continuously between the lateral edges of said body on the inner surface thereof, and a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, transverselyrigid stiffener blocks each secured to said strand in registry with one of said cleats and each comprising a transverse beam integrally carrying members at its opposite ends formed to present oppositely-facing surfaces allochirally angularly related to a plane perpendicular to said beam, said beam being formed with an upwardly presented, part-cylindrical, surface extending axially, continuously between said members engaging the cleat bearing surface of said strand and having a median groove therein extending from one to the other of said members and opening upwardly through said beam surface receiving therein one of said cleats, a clamping plate engaging the outer surface of said strand in registry with said beam, and means penetrating said plate and engaging said beam clamping said strand between said plate and said beam.

4. The belt of claim 3 in which said plate is of a length substantially greater than the transverse dimension of said strand, the ends thereof overhanging the lateral edges of said strand, and said means comprises a pair of screws each penetrating one of said plate ends and engaging in a threaded socket formed in said beam.

5. As an article of manufacture, a transverse stiffener blockv for belts comprising a rigid beam integrally carrying, pressure-sustaining members at its opposite ends formed to present oppositelyf'acing surfaces allochirally angularly related to a plane perpendicular to said beam, said beam being formed with an upwardly presented, partcylindrical surface extending axially, continuous- 1y between said members and having a median groove therein extending from one to the other oi members and opening upwardly through said beam surface.

6. An edge-active belt comprising a body strand of material of high tensile strength, but readily flexible both longitudinally and transversely, said strand being integrally provided with a series of longitudinally-spaced, transversely extending cleats on one surface thereof, and a series of stiffener units each comprising a pair oi cooperating elements, one of said elements of each pair re istering with a cleat and having a groove receiving such clcat, one oi. said elements of each pair carrying, at its opposite ends and beyond the lateral edges of said strand, wing members presenting oppositely facing surfaces allochirally sin ularly related to a plane perpendicular to said element, the other element of each pair en aging the opposite surface of said strand and projecting laterally beyond the edges thereof, and screw means. penetrating one of said cle ments. passing the lateral edges of said strand and threadedly engaging the other of said ele. ments to clamp said strand between said elements.

PAUL B. REEVES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,387,183 Reeves Oct. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 197,385 Great Britain May 8, 1933 

